Reviews tagging 'Rape'

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

633 reviews

creolelitbelle's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Historical fiction and/or time travel fans who have not yet read this near classic sci-fi/speculative fiction title are sleeping on this book that I suspect was way ahead of its time. The audiobook is exceptionally done with nuanced changes in inflection for the tone of current (past?) events for Dana. I appreciate how Butler does not shy away from the realities of the early 19th century and how Dana has to adjust her behavior and words to survive her travels. Kindred is a phenomenal example of books being products of their times - that in which they are written during AND about. It is also a great example of PEOPLE being products of our times, which is highlighted repeatedly about Tom Weylin. A good lesson derived from the book is even people who are horrible based on modern societal standards could be honorable (in other aspects) of their own times' standards. Rufus gives the concept of nature vs. nurture a spin. The paradox of time travel found in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban rings true in Kindred, and Dana realizes it early on. How much can she safely change versus how much must she impact history and its people to preserve her present? Prior to diving into the first few chapters, I never would have guessed how much I would enjoy the tale of an African American woman being thrown into the past of her ancestors. Yes, parts are deeply uncomfortable, but reading it in the 21st century means parts SHOULD be uncomfortable for the reader. 

I will eventually check out the graphic novel adaptation AND watch the tv series I only now learned exists. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Slavery, and Violence

Moderate: Infidelity, Rape, and Death of parent

victor_constantine's review against another edition

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery

Moderate: Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Death of parent

Minor: Vomit and Pregnancy

halftimelord's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

I didn't know what to expect from this book but the synopsis was intriguing. It took me a bit of time to get into it but I definitely enjoyed the second half more than the first, which is when the plot really seemed to get going and the tension really built. 

The characters were well written, especially seeing the characters like Carrie and Alice grow up, although I wasn't sure if I was supposed to be convinced by the more nuanced parts of Rufus... I don't think Kevin has aged very well either. 

A very heavy book that deals with a lot of difficult subject matter and themes (as you'd expect from the plot). I definitely want to read more Octavia Butler in the future!  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, and Slavery

sarah984's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Time travel stories can be a bit hit or miss for me - I find that a lot of the time they get too caught up in either the mechanics or the power fantasy, so they don't feel like they have anything to say. Kindred knows what it wants to say and says it effectively. I'll be thinking about this book for a long time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual violence, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Colonisation

Minor: Gun violence, Incest, Abortion, and Fire/Fire injury

lattimoapearl's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Rape

kat42's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery

Moderate: Rape, Self harm, Suicide, and Pregnancy

razkat's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Trafficking, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

sophiiey's review against another edition

challenging dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

I enjoyed the historical recounting and how much sympathy the author creates for the characters as it is very easy to see how everyone is just doing what they can to survive, even if from a retrospective view decisions are made that we would disagree with. I didn’t like how incomplete it felt at the end - a bit of a rushed conclusion. But I suppose it was because I enjoyed the characters and wanted to keep reading. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Slavery, and Torture

Moderate: Self harm

Minor: Rape

eliisar's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery

Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault

Minor: Ableism and Suicide attempt

summergautier's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

This was a nuanced, gritty, and historically grounded time travel novel that brought real reflection. What would you do if forced back into the antebellum south? Great read. 

Also, I usually would knock a book with blunt and unimaginitive prose, but in this case the very dark subject matter lends itself to a less than purple style. There is nothing that should be glorified about what these charachters endure.

Great and unique novel, one to remember.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Slavery